Humidifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifier for use in a warm-air heating system is disclosed. In one embodiment the humidifier includes a bleedoff drain for removing heavy mineral deposits resulting from hard water. A double-acting float valve which is responsive to the action of an airflow vane controls inlet water. The case of the humidifier has interchangeable panels so that the inlet duct can be installed on either side without necessitating any modifications. The rotating evaporator drum has removable end caps for ease in cleaning or replacing the evaporator pad enclosed therewithin.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Paul A. Herr 1518 Country Club Drive,Lancaster, Pa. 17601 [211 App]. No. 763,299 [22] Filed Sept. 27, 1968[45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] HUMIDIFIER 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl'. 261/92, 55/500 [51] Int. Cl. F24f 3/14 [50] Field ofSearch 261/83- ---84, 92, 94, D16. 46; 55/234, 274, DIG. 27, 500;292/256, 300

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,994,766 3/1935 Heglar55/DIG. 27

2,729,436 1/1956 Norris 55/234 UX 3,171,401 3/1965 McDuffee 1. 126/1133,431,903 3/1969 Irwin 126/113 3,456,927 7/1969 Martin et a1. 261/DIG.48 3,481,588 12/1969 Lobb 26l/D1G.48

Primary Examiner-Frank W Lutter Assistant Examiner-Bernard NozickAttorney-Jacobi, Davidson, Lilling & Siegel ABSTRACT: A humidifier foruse in a warm-air heating system is disclosed. In one embodiment thehumidifier includes a bleedofi' drain for removing heavy mineraldeposits resulting from hard water. A double-acting float valve which isresponsive to the action of an airflow vane controls inlet water. Thecase of the humidifier has interchangeable panels so that the inlet-ductcan be installed on either side without necessitating any modifications.The rotating evaporator drum has removable end caps for ease in cleaningor replacing the evaporator pad enclosed therewithin.

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HUMIDIFIER This invention generally relates to humidifiers, and moreparticularly relates to humidifiers of the type adapted to be insertedbetween a forced-air heating system and the ducts thereof.

Modern heating systems for homes and other buildings include severalbasic types of units. These units are classified either by the type offuel used or by the type of heat distribution system used. Included inthe latter category are steam heating, hot-water heating, and forced-airheating systems. With the advent of cheap natural fuels and efficientburning systems forced-air heating systems have become extremelypopular. The heat can be more readily distributed and unsightly heatexchanging units are eliminated. Further, since the burner itself ismore efficient, there is a remarkable lack of dust and soot produced. Inaddition, forced-air heating systems lend themselves to combination withcentral air conditioning since only one set of ducts and outlets need beprovided. Another obvious advantage of forced-air heating systems is thelack of extensive plumbing connections which need regular maintenance.

An important and noteworthy drawback in forced-air heating systemsresides in the fact that the air in the enclosed area which is beingheated is usually low in moisture content. A basic relationship existsbetween the temperature of the air and the moisture contained by thesame. Relative humidity can be defined as the amount of moisture in theair as compared with the amount that the air could contain at the sametemperature expressed as a percentage. It, therefore, follows that ifcool air, which is capable of containing only a fairly low amount ofmoisture, at a high relative humidity, is heated, the amount of moisturein the air remains exactly the same while the amount of moisture the aircould contain rises. The result of this is an extremely low relativehumidity. While unusually high relative humidity causes a great deal ofdiscomfort, it is generally acknowledged that unusually low relativehumidity can be equally as uncomfortable and can cause damage to bothanimate and inanimate objects. If the air is too dry, wooded objectstend to dry out and contract with consequent damage thereto. Such woodenobjects could include furniture as well as structural members of abuilding. As for the effects on the occupants of a building, varioussinus tissues become dry and irritated. Further, static electricityeasily builds up and creates extremely uncomfortable conditions.

These various ill effects associated with heating systems can beeliminated by providing a humidifier in the air handling system to raisethe relative humidity of the air before passing it to the enclosed areawhich will be heated. Basically, such humidifying systems have a waterreservoir, connected to a source of supply, a mechanism for increasingthe contact area of the air with the water and air inlet and outletconnections. This basic system, however, suffers several disadvantages.The first of the disadvantages concerns the water delivery system to thehumidifier. A reservoir of water, without some automatic deliverysystem, would soon run dry. Accordingly, means to provide a constantsource of water must be included in the unit. With such means must beassociated means for controlling the delivery of water to the unit.Various such delivery means have been used, but not all of them are ableto compensate for fluctuations in evaporation rate due to air velocityand/or ambient relative humidity.

Also, depending on the hardness of the water in a particular area, abuildup of minerals in the reservoir can occur, thereby necessitatingfrequent cleaning and perhaps even repairs. Associated with thenecessity to compensate for water hardness is the necessity to controlthe growth of algae in the reservoir. It is, therefore, a primary objectof the present invention to provide a humidifier which has a watercontrol mechanism responsive to airflow as well as to water hardness.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a humidifierwhich maintains a constant level of water in its reservoir whilebleeding-off mineral-rich water therefrom.

A second disadvantage associated with the humidifiers of the prior artconcerns the means for providing a large airwater contact area. Suchmeans are often expensive and require frequent replacement due toclogging and other lessening of efficiency. Further, such means areoften extremely inaccessible, thereby requiring the presence ofprofessional servicemen to perform that operation. It is, therefore,another primary object of the present invention to provide means forincreasing the contact area between the air and the water which can beeasily serviced and/or replaced.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide suchmeans which is both accessible and reusable.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, it is another object of thepresent invention to provide a humidifier with a case that can be easilyopened for convenient access to the interior thereof for eitherservicing the air-water contacting means or cleaning the reservoir.

A third disadvantage of the prior art humidifiers is concerned with theinstallation of the same more than with its operation. Most suchhumidifiers have a fixed air inlet connection and a fixed air outletconnection which dictates the position and installation of the unit. Ithas been found that such factors as space, duct construction, availableplumbing connections, and available wiring connections, affect theultimate installation of the humidifier. If the humidifier isconstructed in such a way that it can only be installed in one positionand in one manner, one or more of these factors must be manipulated bythe installer to conform to the humidifier.

A need, therefore, exists for a humidifier which can be installed inconformance with existing architectural conditions with the air inletand outlet connections conforming thereto. To this end it is anotherprimary object of the present invention to provide a humidifier whichcan be easily installed without any modification either to theconnections thereon or to other external factors. More specifically, itis an object of the present invention to provide a humidifier with acase constructed such that the air inlet connection can be attached toeither side thereof without any special tools or facilities.

Consistent with the foregoing objects, the present invention provides ahumidifier which bleeds off water in an overflow manner. A float controlregulates the amount and rate of water entering the unit. As fresh waterenters the unit the mineral-rich water is drawn off through theoverflow. Controls are provided to adjust the float travel according tothe hardness of the water, and to regulate the waterflow responsive tothe airflow. A rotating drum with an evaporator pad therein provides thenecessary contact area between the flowing air and the water. In orderto gain access to the interior of the humidifier, a quick releasemechanism is provided to remove the pan after which the drum can beeasily removed. The drum comprises a wire cage which clips on to tworetainer ends. When the retainer ends are removed the pad can simplyslide out of the cage for cleaning. The case is constructed such thateither side thereof can be used for the air inlet fitting. One side ofthe case is secured to an adapter plate for the air inlet fitting and aninspection panel is secured to the other side.

The invention will be better understood, and objects other than thosespecifically set forth above will become apparent, after reading thefollowing detailed description.

Such description makes reference to preferred and illustrative featuresof the invention presented in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view, partially broken away, of thehumidifier of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotatingdrum',

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of thedrum-securing means;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the humidifier of the present invention,partially in phantom to illustrate the water controls; and

FIG. 5 is a partially fragmentary, partially exploded, perspective viewof the humidifier of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings, the humidifier generally designated by thenumeral 10 in FIG. 1, has a casing 12 which comprises a pan 14 and acover member 16. Water is supplied through inlet 18 to the pan. Anoverflow drain 20 is provided as a safety feature an drain plug 22 isprovided for use whenever necessary for cleaning out the pan orservicing the unit. Bleedoff drain 24 is used to remove the mineral-richwater which might accumulate. Air to be humidified enters through theinlet (not shown) where it contacts the rotating evaporator drum 26 andthen leaves through the outlet 28 activating vane 30.

Attention is now drawn to FIG. 4 wherein the pan 14, the cover member16, the drum 26 and the outlet 28 are shown in phantom. Water enteringthrough inlet 18 passes through float valve 30 before entering the pan14. Float valve 30 is controlled by float 32 responsive to the waterlevel in the pan 14. The water level in pan 14 is determined by thesetting of floatadjusting screw 34. When float-adjusting screw 34 isturned, the head thereof being accessible outside of the case, it movesworm shoe 33 which is connected to float arm 35, thereby setting thelevel of float 32. Float 32 is also connected to float valve 30 by meansof float am 35 and worm shoe 33. Bleedofi drain-adjusting screw 42 isthen adjusted so that float pressure arm 40 just touches float 32. This,also, is accomplished from outside the case. Bleedoff control knob 36rotates cam 38 which limits the downward travel of float pressure arm40, thereby aflecting float 32. Bleedoff control knob 36 is setaccording to the relative hardness of the water, rotating through 90from an "off" position which is used in an area of algaefree soft waterto a maximum" position for water of 30 or more grains per gallonhardness. The bleedoff control has a dual action and is actuated by vane43. Air entering inlet 44 contacts the rotating drum 26 and exitsthrough outlet 28 thereby activating vane 43 which is connected to, anddepresses, float pressure arm 40 by linkage 46. Linkage 46 is supportedby brackets 47 which are anchored in cover member 16. It can, therefore,be seen that in operation the float 32 will be depressed either by alowered water level due to evaporation or by action of the vane 43,thereby allowing water to enter through inlet 18 and float valve 30 tomaintain the proper level in pan 14. As water evaporates, however, itleaves a high concentration of minerals in pan 14. When fresh water isintroduced through float valve 30 the water which has a highconcentration of minerals will flow out through bleedoiT drain 24.Bleedofl drain-adjusting screw 42 is also used to compensate fordifferences in water pressure when installing and adjusting the unit.Further, if for any reason a constant flow of water is desired, this canbe accomplished by adjusting screw 42 sufficiently to depress float 32.Thus it can be seen that bleedoff drain-adjusting screw 42 regulates thewater level and, therefore, the flow through bleedoff drain 24.

Evaporator drum 26, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises wire cage 48, closedend 50, open end 52 and evaporator pad 54. Evaporator pad 54 is made ofany suitable known material which can be immersed in water therebyabsorbing the same, and which will release the water to a stream of warmair coming in contact therewith. Evaporator pad 54 is enclosed in wirecage 48 and endpieces 50 and 52 clipped thereon to secure the pad 54inplace. The clip members 56 on endpieces 50 and 52 securely grip theloops 58 of wire cage 48. The method of attaching or detaching endpieces50 and 52 from wire cage 48 is shown in FIG. 3. Clip 56 securely holdsloop 58 by the natural spring action of the wire from which the cage 48is made. In order to remove endpieces 50 and 52, loop 58 is depressed tothe position shown at 60 in phantom, thereby disengaging clip 56. Openend 52 has a shaft 62 which is supported on a suitable bearing surface.Closed end 50 is engaged by a shaft in motor 64 (FIG. 1) which rotatesdrum 26 responsive to the action ofa humidistat (not shown) when theblower ofa heating unit is in operation. The motor 64 is shown in FIG.with the cover plate 66 removed.

To remove the drum 26, the pan is removed in a manner describedhereinbelow. The open end 52 is disengaged from its supporting loop orbearing and the drum is partially lowered at that end. The closed ordriven end 50 is then slid off the motor shaft and the drum is removedby dropping the same downwardly.

The unit 10 is made such that it can be mounted with the air inlet 44 oneither side without the use of tools, and to this end the case,comprising pan 14 and cover member 16, is provided with two similaropenings, one on each side. This flexibility of mounting, of coursemeans that the unit can be turned end for end when installing withoutthe necessity for any modification. The sequence of steps for mounting,or installing, the unit will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Themounting plate 78 is mounted on the warm-air plenum by any suitablemeans such as sheet metal screws 80 and nuts or clips 82. Cover member16 is then hooked over upper tangs 84. Hooks 68 at the outlet end of pan14 are engaged with brackets 70 on cover member 16 and the other end ofpan 14 is raised so that pan 14 engages lower tang 86 and upper flange72 and lower flange 74 meet. Slide 76 then engages flanges 72 and 74 tolock the case members together. To disassemble the case, the procedureis simply reversed. The inspection plate 88 is mounted on the other sidewith spring clips 90.

It should be noted that while the preferred mode of operation requiresthat the unit be mounted on the warm side discharge air plenum with abypass connected to the suction, or return air, side, a reversedmounting procedure can be used when space or other considerations sodictate. In that case, it is understood that the terminology used hereinto denote the inlet and outlet would also be reversed. The externalwiring and plumbing connections are conventional.

Thus it will now be seen that there is herein provided means whichsatisfy all of the objects of the instant invention, and others,including many advantages of great practical utility and commercialimportance.

What I claim is:

1. In a humidifier having a case, rotating evaporative drum means, anair inlet and an air outlet, a water reservoir pan, water inlet means,water bleedoff means, float valve means connected to said water inletmeans to regulate the inflow of water, float means operatively connectedto said float valve means, float pressure arm means in contact with saidfloat to control the water level, external bleedoff control knob meansregulating said float pressure arm means, vane means located in said airoutlet and connected to said pressure arm means by linkage means,whereby said float means is depressed by either actuation of said vanemeans or by a lowering of the water level within said pan.

2. A humidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said external bleedoffcontrol knob means limits said float pressure arm means by cam means.

3. A humidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotating evaporativedrum means comprises a wire cage means defining a generally cylindricalform and having end loops, an evaporator pad held within said cagemeans, and end members which manually clip on said end loops.

4. A humidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said case comprises anupper member and a lower member, said lower member being said pan, saidupper member having a pair of brackets at the outlet end thereof toengage a pair of cooperating hooks on said lower member, both said uppermember and said lower member having flanges at the end opposite theoutlet end thereof, and a retainer slide to engage said flanges, therebylocking said lower member to said upper member.

5. A humidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said case includes anopening on each side thereof, said openings being substantiallyidentical, one of said openings being secured to a mounting plate forsaid air inlet, and an inspection plate secured over the other opening.

6. A humidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said float means isconnected to said float valve means by a float arm and a worm shoe, saidworm shoe being engaged with a worm screw which is adjustable externallyof said case.

7. In a humidifier having a case, an air inlet and an air outlet, awater reservoir pan, water inlet means, water inlet regulatory means,and rotating evaporative drum means, said drum means comprising a wirecage defining a generally cylindrical form and having end loops, anevaporator pad held within said cage means, and end members whichmanually clip on said end loops.

1. In a humidifier having a case, rotating evaporative drum means, anair inlet and an air outlet, a water reservoir pan, water inlet means,water bleedoff means, float valve means connected to said water inletmeans to regulate the inflow of water, float means operatively connectedto said float valve means, float pressure arm means in contact with saidfloat to control the water level, external bleedoff control knob meansregulating said float pressure arm means, vane means located in said airoutlet and connected to said pressure arm means by linkage means,whereby said float means is depressed by either actuation of said vanemeans or by a lowering of the water level within said pan.
 2. Ahumidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said external bleedoff controlknob means limits said float pressure arm means by cam means.
 3. Ahumidifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said rotating evaporative drummeans comprises a wire cage means defining a generally cylindrical formand having end loops, an evaporator pad held within said cage means, andend members which manually clip on said end loops.
 4. A humidifier asdefined in claim 1, wherein said case comprises an upper member and alower member, said lower member being said pan, said upper member havinga pair of brackets at the outlet end thereof to engage a pair ofcooperating hooks on said lower member, both said upper member and saidlower member having flanges at the end opposite the outlet end thereof,and a retainer slide to engage said flanges, thereby locking said lowermember to said upper member.
 5. A humidifier as defined in claim 1,wherein said case includes an opening on each side thereof, saidopenings being substantially identical, one of said openings beingsecured to a mounting plate for said air inlet, and an inspection platesecured over the other opening.
 6. A humidifier as defined in claim 1,wherein said float means is connected to said float valve means by afloat arm and a worm shoe, said worm shoe being engaged with a wormscrew which is adjustable externally of said case.
 7. In a humidifierhaving a case, an air inlet and an air outlet, a water reservoir pan,water inlet means, water inlet regulatory means, and rotatingevaporative drum means, said drum means comprising a wire cage defininga generally cylindrical form and having end loops, an evaporator padheld within said cage means, and end members which manually clip on saidend loops.